“Educational campaigns are needed to alert clinicians and the general public about this increase to help reduce delays in diagnosis, which are so prevalent in young people, but also encourage healthier eating and more active lifestyles to try and reverse this trend.”

The researchers suggest the age at which screening begins for those at average risk of bowel cancer should be reconsidered, and potentially lowered to reflect the rising risk.

Ms Siegel pointed out in the US in 2013, 1o,400 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in people in their 40s.

And another 12,800 cases were diagnosed in people in their early 50s.

“These numbers are similar to the total number of cervical cancers diagnosed, for which we recommend screening for the 95 million women ages 21 to 65 years,” Ms Siegel added.

The UK is seeing a similar pattern. Every year in the UK, 2,540 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a 45 per cent increase over the last 10 years

Deborah AlsinaCEO, Bowel Cancer UK

Deborah Alsina, CEO of Bowel Cancer UK, said the pattern noted in the UK is “similar” to that seen here in the UK.

“Every year in the UK, 2,540 young people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a 45 per cent increase over the last 10 years.

“It’s interesting that there is a particularly steep rise in the number of people under the age of 55 diagnosed with rectal cancer in America.
“And research has indicated a similar pattern in many countries around the world.

“The report highlights the rise in cases in people with no known family history and this might be due in part to lifestyle factors, such as obesity but this does not explain all of these new cases.”

She said more research is needed to look into what is causing the rise in cases, and the study must be replicated this side of the Atlantic to better understand current trends here.